Saraswati Puja, Prayers to the Goddess of Wisdom
Today in Saraswati day, a special day of prayer ceremonies for students as Saraswati is the Goddess of Knowledge. I visited Sujata school and watched the Brahman, who is also the deputy principle, conduct the ceremony or puja. He was also teaching his apprentice how to conduct the elaborate ritual which blessed various substances with water and mantra before making offerings of the substances to the goddess. Just before the unveiling of the paper mashy status of Saraswati was unveiled, which the children had a hand in making, the sacred fire was light and all 150 or children, packed into a tiny mud and brick classroom, stood in prayer in anticipation of the darshan; i.e the goddess casting her eyes on them and thus blessing them. Truly an honour to be part of this ceremony and I also hope that Saraswati send some blessings of knowledge my way too.